Lighting fixture



P. J. DOCIMO LIGHTING FIXTURE Dec. 5, 1967 2 Sheets5heet l Filed June 30, 1965 I A A a mw WM ma WM, W 1J A fw Dec. 5, 1967 P. .1. DoclMo 3,356,842

LIGHTING FIXTURE Filed June 30, '1965 2 Sheets-Sheet :1

INVENTOR P5762? J //W United States Patent O 3,356,842 LIGHTING FIXTURE Peter I. Docimo, Los Angeles, Calif., assiguor to Marvin Electric Manufacturing Co., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed June 30, 1965, Ser. No. 468,405

2 Claims. (Cl. 240-147) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A structure for use in a lighting fixture that will provide the lighting fixture with the identical appearance whether the fixture is of the hinged or spring mounted type.

This invention relates to a lighting fixture and more particularly relates to a recessed ceiling lighting fixture having improved mounting versatility.

In industrial, commercial and other areas where a large number of lamps are required to produce sufficient illumination, it is often desired to recess the lamps in the ceiling, either for aesthetic or safety reasons. When the building being illuminated has high ceilings, as is often the case, changing a burnt out bulb becomes a problem as the face plate or shield protecting the bulb must first be moved out of the way. In order to facilitate changing burnt out bulbs, lighting fixtures have been developed in which the face plate is hingedly mounted on the xture housing and can be pivoted'away therefrom upon the release of a latch mechanism. The latch mechanism is provided with some sort of device that can be actuated from the ground by means of a pole or the like so that no ladder is needed to swing the face plate out of the way and expose the bulb for replacement.

When the -ceilings are not so high, the lighting fixtures used are often not provided with any hinge structure but rather the face plate is fastened to the recessed housing of the xture by means of a pair of springs. This makes it possible for the person changing the light bulb to pull downwardly on the face plate to displace it from the housing and then pivot the plate about the springs to provide suicient room to reach in and change the bulb. The latter type of fixture is obviously much simpler and cheaper and thus is generally preferred when it can be used.

In many situations, however, it is necessary that at least a part of the lighting be provided by recessed ceiling fixtures that cannot be reached without the use of a ladder or the like and thus the use of the spring mounted type fixture is impractical. In such cases, it is common for all Vof the lixtures to be provided with the hinged type structure so that uniformity of appearance is obtained. This is particularly true in commercial establishments such as stores and restaurants Where 4such uniformity of appearance is especially desirable. The use of all hinge type structures, of course, greatly increases the cost over what it would be if the hinged type structures were used only where necessary and the spring type structures used in the remaining fixtures. However, none of the lighting fixtures presently available provide a structure that will appear identical whether it is hingedly mounted or spring mounted.

It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a recessed ceiling lighting fixture which is adaptable for use in either the hinged or the spring mounted manner.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide such a fixture which is identical in appearance regardless of the way it is mounted.

It is another object of the present invention to provide 3,356,842 Patented Dec. 5, 1967 of the present invention as it appears when in place;

FIGURE 2 is a top plan view of the hinged embodiment of the lighting fixture of the present invention;

FIGURE 3 is a cross .sectional view taken along lines 3 3 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 4 is a View taken along lines 4-4 of FIG- URE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 5 5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a View similar to FIGURE 4 but showing the elements thereof in an open position;

FIGURE 7 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 7 7 of FIGURE 5; l

FIGURE 8 is a cross sectional view taken along lines 8 8 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 9 is a top perspective view of the structure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective detail of the portion of the structure of FIGURE 9;

FIGURE 11 is a perspective detail of the portion of the structure of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 12 is a sectional detail showing the spring mounted embodiment of the present invention; Y

FIGURE 13 is a perspective view of the spring assembly of the structure of FIGURE 12; and

FIGURE 14 illustrates how the face plate pivots about the spring assembly of FIGURE 13.

Turning now to the several figures, FIGURE 1 illustrates the appearance of the lighting fixture of the present invention when mounted in a ceiling. As can be seen, the face plate 9 having a metal frame or bezel 10 mounting a glass plate 11 behind which the bulb is positioned is mounted almost flush with a ceiling 12. The appearance of the fixture is the same whether the face plate 9 is hingedly mounted to a framework recessed in the ceiling or spring mounted thereto as will be seen from the following description.

Turning to FIGURES 2 through 11, a lighting fixture frame or vessel is shown which has a supporting framework for hingedly mounting the face plate 9. As can be seen from these figures, the frame 10 is provided with an upturned edge 13 which engages the ceiling 12. The frame 10 is also provided at its rear corners with hinge blocks 14 each of which has a passageway 15 for receiving a hinge pin 16. The hinge pins 16 are part of a block 17 which is screwed or otherwise mounted on a supporting framework 18. As can be seen in FIGURE 3, the supporting framework 18 is provided with an upstanding wall 19 which projects into a recess 20 formed in the ceiling 12. The side portions of the upstanding wall 19 are provided with flanges 21 which are screwed to a shoulder 22 of the light fixture housing 23 which is mounted in the recess 20.

The frame 10 is also provided with an integral upstanding Wall Z5 which surrounds the glass plate 11 and a flange 26 which extends beyond theupstanding Wall 25 and supports the plate 11. Brackets 27 are provided at the rear corners of the wall 25 somewhat above the glass plate 11 to cause the plate to pivot about the horizontal portion of thebrackets when an upward force is exerted on it. The side portions of the wall 25 are provided with clip brackets 28Yto limit the movement of the glass plate 11 under such an upward force. The `front portion of the Wall 25 is provided with a cutout 29, and a catch 30 is mounted on the frame adjacent to the cutout 29 but outside the wall 25. The entire wall 25 and the catch 30 are dirnensioned such that they can telescope within the opstanding wall 19 of the supporting framework 18 when the supporting framework 18 is hingedly attached to the frame 10. The entire supporting framework is, of course, hidden from view by the extending portion of the frame 10 and the upturned edge portion 13 thereof.

The front portion of the upstanding wall 19 of the supporting framework 18 is provided with a latch assembly 32 for cooperating with the catch 30. For this purpose, the front portion of the wall 19 is provided with a cutout portion 33 and an adjacent raised portion 34. A plate 35 is positioned in the cutout portion 33 and welded or otherwise fastened to the raised portion 34. The plate 35 has mounted therein a shaft or rivet 36 about which a latch member 37 pivots.

The latch member 37 is provided with a depending leg '38 having a foot 39 thereon for engaging the catch 30 and is also provided with an extending member 40 having an outwardly extending tab 41 positioned on its upper edge and an inwardly extending tab 42 positioned on its lower edge. The upper tab 41 serves to engage the top surface of the raised surface 34 and limit the counterclockwise rotation of the latch mem-ber 37 while the lower tab 42 is adapted to be engaged by the glass plate 11 to cause the latch member 37 to pivot in a clockwise direction. A spring 43 connects the wall portion 19 adjacent the cutout 33 with the end of the latch member 37 and causes the latch member 37 to be biased in the counterclockwise direction.

The operation of the lighting fixture just described is as follows. When it is desired to change the light bulb of the fixture, the maintenance man pushes against the glass plate 11 with a pole or similar instrument, for example, a pole of the type having a fixture on the end thereof for unscrewing a light bulb from a socket. The upward force on the glass plate 11 causes it to pivot upwardly about the horizontal -brackets 37 so that its front edge engages the tab 42 of the latch mem-ber 37 as shown in phantom in FIGURE 5. The force exerted by the glass plate 11 causes the latch member 37 to pivot around the shaft 36 with the result that the foot 39 is removed from the catch 30. The frame 10 is now free to pivot about the hinge pins 16 and thus it falls away from the support framework 18 and exposes .the light bulb. If desired, the distance of travel of the frame 10 can be limited by a chain attached to the supporting framework or the housing and to suitable mounting posts 44 which may be provided at the front corners of the wall 25 of frame 10. After the light bulb has been replaced, the pole is used to push the frame 10 back upwardly towards the supporting framework 18. The catch 30 is provided with a camming surface 45 which forces the foot 39 of the latch member 37 out of the way until the catch 30 has cleared the foot 39 at which time the spring 43 rotates the latch member 37 in the counter-clockwise direction and the foot .39 engages the catch 30 and holds the frame 10 in place.

As pointed out previously, in many instances it is desired to use spring mounted frames together with hingedly mounted frames such as those just described. As shown Vin FIGURES 11-13, this can be accomplished according to the present invention by providing the side portions of the wall 25 of the frame 10 with holes for receiving pins 50 which may conveniently be rivets. A torsion spring 51 is coiled about each of the pins 50y so that the frame 10 can pivot relative to the springs. The springs cooperate with `brackets 52 welded or otherwise fastened to a supporting framework 53 which is mounted on the housing 23 positioned in the recess 20 and attached to the shoulder 22 thereof by bolts 54. Each of the brackets 52 is provided with a slot 55 and a cutout portion 56 giving access to the slot 55 for the spring 51. The spring 51 can thus be moved up and down relative to the bracket 52.

The ends of the spring 51 are preferably bent over to limit the downward movement of the spring.

When a bulb must be replaced, the maintenance man grasps the edges of the frame 10 and pulls the frame downward. This causes the springs 51 to be pulled through the slots 55 in the brackets S2 with the result that their ends are pinched together. The frame 10 can now be pivoted about the pins 50 to give better access to the interior of .the fixture. After the light bulb has been replaced, the maintenance man merely pushes up on the frame 10 and the ends of the springs 51 spread apart as the frame 10 moves upwardly and holds it in the ceiling engaging position. Once it is again in this position, it is impossible to tell the type of mounting structure utilized.

From the foregoing description, it can be seen that a lighting fixture has been provided in which the face plate which is the only portion of the structure visible when it is in place appears identical whether it is held in place by springs or whether it is hingedly mounted in place. The use of this lighting fixture permits more economical lighting without impairing the aesthetic appearance of the area being lighted as each of the lighting fixtures appears identical even though the more expensive hinged structures are used only in those places where they are absolutely necessary and the less expensive spring mounted structures are used in the remaining locations.

The invention may be embodied in other specific forms not departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

I claim:

1. A lighting fixture face plate for use interchangeably with a recessed lighting fixture of a first type having a supporting framework having front, back and side portions each having a vertical wall and a horizontal flange extending outwardly therefrom, means attached to the rear of the horizontal flange of each side portion for horizontally positioning a hinge pin whereby a face plate may be hingedly attached thereto, means associated with the vertical walls of said side portions for attaching said framework to the walls of the housing in which it is mounted, and latch means mounted on the vertical wall of said front portion for making latching engagement with a face plate; and of a second type having a supporting framework fastened to the housing in which it is mounted and having a pair of brackets mounted on the sides thereof, said brackets having slots therein for receiving springs attached to a face plate whereby the face -plate may be attached thereto, comprising: a sheet of metal having a centrally located opening formed therein, a continuous vertical wall formed integrally with said sheet and having front, back and side portions, said wall portions being positioned intermediate the edges of said sheet and the opening therein whereby an internal ledge is formed for supporting a sheet of light transmitting material, first and second blocks mounted on the rear corners of said metal sheet, said blocks having passageways therein for receiving said hinge Ipins, and a catch positioned adjacent the front portion of said wall for cooperating with said latch means whereby the face plate is removably received in said supporting framework of the first type, and a passageway formed in each of said side portions of said vertical walls for receiving spring mounting means whereby the face plate is adapted to be removably received in a supporting framework of the second type.

2. A lighting fixture face plate for use interchangeably with a recessed lighting fixture of a first type having a supporting framework and a housing, said housing being recessed and said supporting framework being mounted on said housing, said supporting framework including hinge pin means for hingedly mounting said face plate; and with a recessed lighting fixture of a second ty-pe having a supporting framework and a housing, said housing being recessed and said supporting framework being mounted on said housing, said supporting framework having a pair of brackets mounted on the sides thereof, said brackets having slots therein for receiving springs attached to said face plate whereby the face plate may be attached thereto, comprising: a sheet of metal having a centrally located opening formed therein, a continuous vertical wall formed integrally with said sheet and having front, back and side portions, said wall portions being positioned intermediate the edges of said sheet and the opening therein whereby an internal ledge is formed for supporting a sheet of light transmitting Inaterial, first and second blocks mounted on the rear corners of said metal sheet, said blocks having passageways therein for receiving said hinge pin means, and catch means on the front portion of said wall whereby said face plate is adapted to be removably received in said supporting framework of the first type, and a passageway formed in each of said side portions of said vertical Walls for receiving spring mounting means whereby the face plate is removably received in said supporting framework of the second type, said sheet extending outwardly from said vertical wall a sufficient distance to hide the recessed housing of either type fixture from view whereby said fixtures appear identical when installed.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,027,452 3/19'62 McGinty 240--147 3,069,540 12/ 1962 Jones 240-147 3,117,732 1/1964 Green 24U- 147 3,156,419 10/1964 Wince 240147 NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner.

I. F. PETERS, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A LIGHTING FIXTURE FACE PLATE FOR USE INTERCHANGEABLY WITH A RECESSED LIGHTING FIXTURE OF A FIRST TYPE HAVING A SUPPORT FRAMEWORK HAVING FRONT, BACK AND SIDE PORTIONS EACH HAVING A VERTICAL WALL AND A HORIZONTAL FLANGE EXTENDING OUTWARDLY THEREFROM, MEANS ATTACHED TO THE REAR OF THE HORIZONTAL FLANGE OF EACH SIDE PORTION FOR HORIZONTALLY POSITIONING A HINGE PIN WHEREBY A FACE PLATE MAY BE HINGEDLY ATTACHED THERETO, MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE VERTICAL WALLS OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS FOR ATTACHING SAID FRAMEWORK TO THE WALLS OF THE HOUSING IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED, AND LATCH MEANS MOUNTED ON THE VERTICAL WALL OF SAID FRONT PORTION FOR MAKING LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH A FACE PLATE; AND OF A SECOND TYPE HAVING A SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK FASTENED TO THE HOUSING IN WHICH IT IS MOUNTED AND HAVING A PAIR OF BRACKETS MOUNTED ON THE SIDES THEREOF, SAID BRACKETS HAVING SLOTS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SPRINGS ATTACHED TO A FACE PLATE WHEREBY THE FACE PLATE MAY BE ATTACHED THERETO, COMPRISING: A SHEET OF METAL HAVING A CENTRALLY LOCATED OPENING FORMED THEREIN, A CONTINUOUS VERTICAL WALL FORMED INTEGRALLY WITH SAID SHEET AND HAVING FRONT, BACK AND SIDE PORTIONS, SAID WALL PORTIONS BEING POSITIONED INTERMEDIATE THE EDGES OF SAID SHEET AND THE OPENING THEREIN WHEREBY AN INTERNAL LEDGE IS FORMED FOR SUPPORTING A SHEET OF LIGHT TRANSMITTING MATERIAL, FIRST AND SECOND BLOCKS MOUNTED ON THE REAR CORNERS OF SAID METAL SHEET, SAID BLOCKS HAVING PASSAGEWAYS THEREIN FOR RECEIVING SAID HINGE PINS, AND A CATCH POSITIONED ADJACENT THE FRONT PORTION OF SAID WALL FOR COOPERATING WITH SAID LATCH MEANS WHEREBY THE FACE PLATE IS REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN SAID SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK OF THE FIRST TYPE, AND A PASSAGEWAY FORMED IN EACH OF SAID SIDE PORTIONS OF SAID VERTICAL WALLS FOR RECEIVING SPRING MOUNTING MEANS WHEREBY THE FACE PLATE IS ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY RECEIVED IN A SUPPORTING FRAMEWORK OF THE SECOND TYPE. 